What are you carrying around in those bags of yours?
Some of us women are notorious for hauling around way too much junk essentials in our purses. And that load has a way of weighing on our shoulders after awhile. There was a time I carried really small handbags that could hold nothing more than a wallet, lip chap, pen, etc. But as I have aged, my purse size has increased along with the number of items I pack in it.
The Weight of It All
Yet it’s not the size of our purses that has garnered my attention but rather the weight of baggage we tend to carry within us.
Life’s frustrations, disappointments, sorrows, pains have away of lingering if we do not make a concerted effort to lift them to Jesus. What we carry with us can cripple us. I had not even noticed what was tagging along with me as I went about my daily chores. The weight of my bag had become heavy due to all the inner frustrations I had failed to release.
Erykah Badu warned us in her song, Bag Lady
Bag lady you gone hurt your back
Dragging all them bags like that
I guess nobody ever told you
All you must hold on to
Is you, is you, is youOne day all them bags gone get in your way
One day all them bags gone get in your way
I said one day all them bags gone get in your way
One Day all them bags gone get in your waySo pack light
It was only after I lifted and left them at the alter Sunday morning that I realize just how bound I had been. When I rose this morning, my steps and my mind felt lighter. As I walked I was reminded that some loads are not meant for me to carry and to simply trust that when I needed to know what to say or do, He would lead me.
What a release to know it’s not up to me to figure everything out or to make things happen. (Yes I already knew that intellectually but I had been toiling trying to fit the pieces of the puzzle together rather than waiting for the one who knows where all things go).
Pack Light
As I casually looked through my wallet the other day, I found some gas receipts from back in April of this year. Almost four months later, I’m still carrying around useless paper all because I tucked it in a side packet and neglected to weed through all the stuff in my purse. In much the same way, we can find ourselves carrying the hurts of years gone behind all because we didn’t stop and do a thorough look through of our lives.
Are you packing light, my dear? Or is there something that needs to be lifted and left at the feet of Jesus? Perhaps, you thought you left it but as time went on you circled around and picked it up again.
Are you holding to the hurtful words she said?
Are you still rehearsing how they betrayed you?
Are you still locked into feelings of guilt of something you did or said?
The invitation to bring it unto Him still stands.
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and loaded down with burdens, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 (ISV)
I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint. Jeremiah 31:25
photo credit: Sam Breach via photo pin cc
Wanda, I had the “guilty” look on my face when I read the title. Over the weekend, I started going through “important” stuff that has been piled up everywhere. Neat piles, but piles none the less. Imagine my surprise when after just going through one area I had two bags of trash and almost nothing important. A Starbucks receipt from two years ago? Help me, Lord!!!!!! I’ll be going through this process every Sunday afternoon until all the “important” stuff, I mean, trash is gone. Pray for me. I’m laughing, but pray.
Oh girl, I just started my vacation today and I’m dreading tackling the pile of stuff that I have accumulated. I don’t know why it’s so hard to let some stuff go. As the old saints say, you pray for me as I pray for you. I must lighten my load. I’m bound to find some older receipts hanging around in my drawers. But we can do this 🙂
This makes so much sense….I do carry too much around. I will pack lightly:)
Amazing how much we get used to hauling around with us.
This is so true. I am guilty of tucking away receipts only to return to them months later. Your post have me thinking. It’s that..”hmmmm, I didn’t think about that” moment. Thank you for this. Blessings to you. 🙂
Thanks Toia.
I had to lighten my bag just a few weeks ago because my load of essentials that I had in it was giving me a terrible pain in the shoulder. As hard as it was to weed through all the stuff that I was holding on to I find it even more difficult to weed through the unseen baggage I sometimes carry. Day by day though I learning to cast my cares upon him. Thanks for sharing.
I’m with you Bernadine some times it’s much harder to just get rid of the baggage but to actually recognize that the baggage is there.
Ironically most my life I carry such a little purse just for money. I was never one to carry any essentials. I have always traveled light. Blessings to you Wanda.
Sometimes it’s easier to pack lack in the natural but our spirit man has a way of carrying around unnecessary baggage as well. May you pack light in every area.
“I was reminded that some loads are not meant for me to carry and to simply trust that when I needed to know what to say or do, He would lead me.”
Been there….more times than I would like to admit…although it does seem to get easier each time to let go and I lay the loads down quicker….it looks like it would be automatic…I KNOW He knows best and I don’t so WHY do I think I can handle it on my own? I am answering this in a blog post soon….
Great post, Wanda!
I look forward to reading your upcoming blog post Karen.
Wanda, this is timely! I dropped my daughter off at a sleep over and stopped at this old fashion country store. I chose just to grab wallet n’ phone, because my purse was heavy. I was thinking when I get home I’m going to lighten my load.
Hubby made one of his smart comments earlier that set me back…but it is my choice, how I will react to it! Thanks Wanda for your insightful post 😀
Hi Wanda, good thoughts to consider…what we are holding onto. We probably need to ask ourselves that question every day because letting go for good is difficult. Thanks for sharing! Holly
So true Holly, letting go is not a one time event.